“When he was arrested, he said, ‘I’m ICE, boys,’” Hodges said during a press conference Tuesday. “Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up.”

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/bloomington-sex-trafficking-sting/

More than a dozen men have been arrested after trying to solicit a minor for sex in Bloomington, Minnesota, police say. According to Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges, officers started the three-day sting on Nov. 5. They used several methods to find people who were attempting to solicit a 17-year-old girl for sex. In all, police arrested 16 men during the investigation, which Hodges called “Operation Creep.” Hodges said most of the men came from within the Twin Cities area. One of the men, he said, is an employee for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who could face federal charges. Hodges said the ICE employee works as an auditor.

“When he was arrested, he said, ‘I’m ICE, boys,’” Hodges said during a press conference Tuesday. “Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up.” Another suspect is a staffer at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. WCCO has reached out to both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to confirm the men’s roles and whether they’re still employed. Not all of the men have been charged. Hodges added that he knew “ICE took custody of a few of them but we don’t have a way to verify someone’s status here at the Bloomington Police Department.” He added that sting operations have become more difficult in recent years because of advanced technology. “We need to make sure that we pass some laws that make it so these companies can’t continue to have these people on their platforms,” Hodges said.

Police also shared a drone video of a suspect arriving at a hotel with a bag containing cocaine, methamphetamine and eight firearms. Another suspect allegedly told the decoy he was showing up with a gun. Hodges shared a video of officers tackling that man to the floor. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and police departments from Eden Prairie, Richfield and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport assisted with the operation, Hodges said. Several months ago, police conducted a similar sting that led to the arrest of ex-State Sen. Justin Eichorn, who is currently facing federal solicitation charges.